Freak Show : Movie Review : Nightlight (2015)

Nightlight tries hard to be different

Director : Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Starring : Shelby Young, Chloe Bridges, Carter Jenkins, Mitch Hewer, Taylor Murphy
Studio : Herrick Entertainment
Distributed by : Lionsgate
Release Date : March 27, 2015 (United States)

Plot: Five friends venture out into the woods to play a game and discovers that the legends surrounding it are true.

Same old story

Yes. I know that after reading the short description of the movie above, you'll already think that we've seen it before. A group of attractive teens goes into the woods and meets their horrible fates. Well, you're right. This is the same old, same old storyline that we have been all accustomed to.
There's nothing really special about the storyline of the movie. Even the characters are mostly stereotypical. If you're looking for a movie with a unique plot, then this movie is not for you. You'll be sorely disappointed.

"Something's wrong here..." Yeah. We know.

A Different Found-footage
I think the only thing that makes this movie a bit different is it's concept. The film tries to create a variation on the found-footage genre. Instead of using camera lenses, the film is shot from the perspective or point of view of the flashlights that the characters held.
It's actually quite unique. At first. Of course, as the film goes on, the technique slowly wears off and the movie eventually becomes just another found-footage film. Of course, I appreciate the efforts of the filmmakers, trying to be different. We need more of this people in the genre these days.

The Best Thing About This Movie...

Well, I must say that the film generates a respectable amount of suspense along the way. I think this is one thing that they were able to do right because the film is really suspenseful.

There's a lot of scenes wherein I try to avoid looking directly at the screen because I felt like there's something... or someone who'll just jump in front of the camera (or the flashlights). The way they move the viewer's attention from one point to another actually puts me on my toes.
I think the directors really excel in this aspect of the film. There's always a feeling of uneasiness all throughout the film.

There's also some scenes in the film that really startled me. One of my favorite was the scene where Robin (Shelby Young) and Nia (Chloe Bridges) were being chased by this unseen figure as they walk through a dirt road with light posts. That was scene alone was really scary.
And for that, I'm somehow satisfied with it.

Verdict:
The film tries to be different from other films in the Found-footage genre but still ends up like the rest. Though it gets an A for it's heightened suspense that the film was able to accomplish and sustain all throughout the film's 85 minutes duration.